Pittsburgh Tribune-Review athletes of the week: North Allegheny's Curtis Aiken Jr., Bishop Canevin's Erin Joyce

Curtis Aiken Jr.

School: North Allegheny

Sport: Basketball

Year: Sophomore

Claim to fame: Aiken scored a career-high 41 points in a Section 3-AAAA win over Butler last week. Led by Aiken's 21.9 points per game, the Tigers are in first place in section play at 3-0. The point guard has scholarship offers from Pitt and Tennessee.

Was there a point in the game against Butler where you knew it might be a career-best night?

At the beginning of the game I just knew my teammates were going to be there for me, and they just got me the ball at the right times and I tried to do what I could do. And coach kept me in for a good amount of time, so he trusted me, so I appreciated that.

What's led to your success this season?

I just put in a lot of work over the summer, got a little stronger. So just a lot of hard work.

Your father (Curtis Aiken) is one of the best players in Pitt basketball history. Has he helped in your development as a player?

Yeah, a huge help. He works me out all the time. … He's been helping me my whole life.

Who's the best local player you have played against?

Ramon Creighton (Allderdice).

What's your favorite class in school?

Probably math; math's pretty easy to me.

Erin Joyce

School: Bishop Canevin

Sport: Basketball

Year: Senior

Claim to fame: Joyce scored 23 points, including six 3-pointers, to lead Class AA's top-ranked Crusaders (9-1, 4-0 Section 3-AA) to a win over then-No. 4 Chartiers-Houston. Joyce plans to play basketball next season at Waynesburg University.

Was the victory over Chartiers-Houston your biggest win of the season so far?

It's a nice section win, one of the tougher teams we've played so far, so yeah.

How have you become a good 3-point shooter?

Taking my time and getting the shot off right. My dad (Bishop Canevin coach Tim Joyce) always gets on me for how I shoot it, because when I actually listen to him, it goes in.

What will it take to get back to the WPIAL championship game?

We have to do what we did at the end of last year, play together as a team. We have to shoot the ball well, our defense needs to step up, so all the key elements.

What's it like playing for your dad?

I love it. It's hard sometimes, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

— Alex Oltmanns